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The U.S. National Arboretum presents a unique group of cold hardy,
fall blooming camellias hybridized specifically for the landscape.
Tough enough to thrive in the mid-Atlantic region as far north as U.S.D.A.
Zone 6b, these lovely evergreen shrubs produce showy flowers of pink or
white over a period of 4 to 6 weeks in late autumn. Petals are shed individually
when bloom is completed--eliminating the tiresome task of dead-heading
for the gardener. Plant smart and be charmed all winter by one of these
exceptional landscape camellias!

'Winter's Charm'

'Snow Flurry'

'Polar Ice'

'Winter's Rose'

'Winter's Hope'

'Winter's Star'

'Winter's Rose'

'Snow Flurry'

'Winter's Hope'

'

'Polar Ice'

'Winter's Star'

Cold Hardy Fall Blooming Camellia Hybrids

Botanical Name:

Camellia ('Frost Princess' x oleifera)

'Polar Ice'

(NA 61950; PI 546366)

Camellia (oleifera x 'Frost Princess')

'Snow Flurry'

(NA 61951; PI 546367)

'Winter's Hope'

(NA 62302; PI 547260)

Camellia (oleifera x hiemalis 'Otome')

'Winter's Rose'

(NA 61952; PI 546368)

Camellia (oleifera x hiemalis 'Showa-no-sakae')

'Winter's Star'

(NA 62303; PI 547261)

Camellia (sasanqua 'Takara-wase' x oleifera)

'Winter's Charm'

(NA 62301; PI 547259)

Family:

Theaceae

Hardiness:

Recommended for landscape purposes in the mid-Atlantic region as far
north as U.S.D.A. Zone 6b.

Development:

Following a series of unusually cold winters from the late 1970's to
mid 1980's, the camellia collection at the U.S. National Arboretum (Zone
7), primarily mature C. sasanqua and C. japonica, was almost
totally destroyed. Plants of C. oleifera growing at USNA and Maryland
sites showed no winter injury. Dr. William L. Ackerman then made a series
of interspecific crosses between C. oleifera and C. sasanqua,
C. hiemalis, or C. vernalis selections. Hybrids were distributed
for evaluation to cooperators in five eastern states in 1982-1983. The
six selections featured here exhibited desirable plant habit, flower quality
and cold hardiness, showing little or no winter injury despite temperatures
as low as -12 °F. All six were released in 1991 and have been registered
with the American Camellia Society.

Significance:

C. oleifera, a small-flowered, fall flowering Chinese species,
was used as the foundation of a sucessful cold hardy camellia breeding
program. The resulting hybrids combine the plant cold hardiness of C.
oleifera with the flower form and quality of showier species, C.
hiemalis or C. sasanqua, and extend the reliablity of camellias
as long-term landscape plants into Zone 6b in the mid-Atlantic region.

Root successfully from cuttings taken in late fall, by the following
spring, under mist, with bottom heat, 3000 ppm IBA. Propagating selections
on own roots is recommended. If grafted, use cold hardy understock such
as C. oleifera.

Landscape Use:

Lovely as specimen plants, foundation plantings, or naturalistic plantings
at the edge of a woodland.

Availability:

Readily available from mail-order firms and retail and wholesale nurseries.

U.S. National Arboretum Plant IntroductionFloral and Nursery Plants Research Unit
U.S. National Arboretum, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Agricultural Research Service, 3501 New York Ave., N.E., Washington, DC
20002